It's already the middle of February and I'm not sure where Christmas went. I do know that the BOI office has been buzzing with lots of great music and DVD's that you really need to know about. Not to mention all the great Valentines Day parties that you have been to. But alas..

Love is still in the air and I have heard the most beautiful CD that I have in years, Il Divo, "Ancora". The world class operatic pop vocal quartet Il Divo has upped its game with "Ancora", a lush new collection that fulfills the promise of the group's best selling debut with some of Il Divo's most tender and passionate performances to date. Ancora has sold more than 5 million copies world wide, and features a duet with Celene Dion.

Il Divo was formed by American Idol judge Simon Cowell, who took these young men and combined their astounding musical mastery with their smoldering sex appeal. Even Cowell was intimidated and slightly in awe of their talent. However, he is more proud of this album than anything else he's been involved with. For more about these gorgeous men, go to www.ildivo.com or www.columbiarecords.com.

 

"Attack of the Bride Monster" is on the fast-track to cult classic acclaim, both as a noted favorite within the gay and lesbian community, as well as among intelligent filmgoers in general who appreciate irony, cinematic parody, clever filmmaking and insightful storytelling.

Awarded Best of the Best in the Houston Gay Lesbian Film Festival in September 2005, "Attack of the Bride Monster" went on to win the prestigious McMullen-Sullivan Founders Award (for films with Texas content or with Texas-based filmmakers) in the Out Takes Dallas Film Festival in November 2005. Most recently, "Attack of the Bride Monster" was screened at the celebrated Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival, the second oldest gay and lesbian film festival in the U.S.

Written by Leslie Belt, directed by Vicky Boone and shot by award-winning cinematographer PJ Raval, all of Austin, "Attack of the Bride Monster," is a dark comedy set against the turbulent backdrop of the legalized same-sex-marriage debate in 2004. A 17-minute comedy blending live action, animation and visual effects, "Attack of the Bride Monster" is a highly stylized homage to the romantic comedies and monster movies of the 1950s.

Homophobia, gender roles and commitment issues weigh heavily in this story of a woman's desire to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a traditional American princess bride ­ untraditional wedding scenario notwithstanding.

This hilarious short film is currently running on
www.planetout.com for your viewing and voting pleasure, so view it and vote; it is certainly worth the time.